A man has been arrested after a woman in her 80s was rushed to hospital with serious injuries following an incident in Dundalk on Friday afternoon.
Gardaí say they were alerted to the scene at a home in Glenwood Estate shortly before 1pm.
Three women were injured during the incident.
It is understood that the elderly woman was attacked with a hatchet. She was rushed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda with serious injuries.
The other two women were taken to Louth County Hospital for treatment.
A man was arrested at the scene and is currently being detained at a Garda station in Co Louth under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
A garda spokesperson added that investigations are ongoing.